Studies examine effects of drugs on ecosystems

Investigations are under way throughout the world to determine
if drugs that people take for various medical conditions are
getting into the environment and affecting other species.

So far, the answers are not entirely clear, but studies have
shown that pharmaceutical compounds are getting into the water
through sewers and septic systems. A story I wrote for
today’s Kitsap Sun involves water samples taken in Poulsbo’s
Liberty Bay, where extremely low levels of several compounds were
found.

Despite intensive studies, effects on the environment remain
uncertain. Part of the problem is the vast number of pharmaceutical
compounds being consumed by people, while the compounds themselves
are often found in very low levels in our waterways.

A good number of studies are focusing on the effects of
synthetic estrogen, because there is growing evidence that the sex
ratios of fish are being altered near some sewage-treatment plants
by constant exposure to such compounds. Elsewhere, laboratory
studies are exposing fish and other organisms to a wide array of
medical compounds at various levels to see if effects can be
observed.

It is a complex field of inquiry, according to researchers I’ve
interviewed. Sometimes effects are not observed in fish exposed to
the chemicals, but show up in their offspring. Some changes may be
too slight to notice at first but may be observed after several
generations.